Evaluación del estigma hacia los adolescentes con problemas de salud mental

Laburpena

DOCTORAL THESIS: ASSESSMENT OF STIGMA TOWARDS ADOLESCENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS Dª María Nieves Martínez Hidalgo SUMMARY The overall objective of this thesis is to evaluate the degree of stigma to peers with mental health problems in adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years. This research assumes that adolescents who identify themselves as having or having had psychological problems, those with high scores in anxiety, depression and / or negative self-esteem, who have gone to psychological counseling and / or which are related to a relative, friend, colleague, acquaintance or neighbor with psychological problems are more mental health issues aware and develop less stigmatizing and more prosocial attitudes toward peers with mental health problems, so their scores on measures of stigma will be lower than those obtained by less mental health issues aware adolescents and teenagers. It is also assumed that variables such as age and gender can play a role in the development of stigma. Regarding the methodology, the final study sample consisted of 1,112 participants (576 male and 536 female students, 51.8% and 48.2% of the total sample, respectively), aged between 12 and 16 years (M: 13, 97 years; SD: 1.21) and enrolled in six schools in the Region of Murcia (1st to 4th year of secondary school, ESO). Two instruments to measure stigma (Scale 3E and Questionnaire Attribution r-AQ) and two other instruments to assess the presence of depressive symptoms and negative self-esteem (CDI) and anxiety (STAIC-R) were applied collectively, all of them used within classroom in the presence of the researcher. Given the goals outlined in this thesis, different types of statistical analysis were conducted. The analysis of the results obtained in this study indicates the importance of factors such as gender, age and degree of familiarity with mental health problems and suggests the importance of their inclusion in research on mental health stigma in the stage of adolescence. It is important to remember that the level of stigma of all participants increases from 12 to 14 years, the age at which reaches its peak. From 14 to 16 years, the level of stigma reversed its direction again, dropping significantly. With respect to gender, two clarifications must be made, one concerning the prevalence of mental health problems, according to which girls with depression, anxiety and low self-esteem account for significantly much higher than boys; another concerning the level of stigma, according to which, the girls get lower levels of stigmatizing attitudes toward peers with problems than those obtained by the boys at all ages. On the other hand, the higher degree of familiarity (have or have had a psychological problem and have some acquaintance with psychological problems) correlates with a lower level of stigma, less prejudice and a higher likelihood to attitudes of empathy and helping behaviors in study participants. Regarding the prevalence of mental health problems in general, the data also corroborate those found in Spain and internationally. Nearly 20% of adolescents, i.e. 1 in 5, have a mental health problem. Having a mental health problem or being depressed, anxious or having low self-esteem symptoms associates with a lower level of stigma towards peers with these problems. Another curious fact is the lack of awareness or concealment about having a mental health problem, more notable in the female adolescents than in the male, and that would block access to professional help with the worsening of symptoms and emotional distress. In view of the data, it becomes evident the need to design and implement education and awareness programs that promote mental health and aim to the normalization of mental health problems, the dialogue and communication on these issues in the peer group, the decision awareness or insight on these issues and seeking professional help, if necessary and the development of empathy and prosocial behavior toward peers with psychological problems, especially at this stage of adolescence.